Actually I think Marble is metamorphised Limestone.

Quartzite is sometimes referred to as Quartz which can be confusing.

The difference is engineered vs. natural. The engineered Quartz has quartz in it, but it not the same as Quartzite.

If you want a natural stone you want Quartzite. This is really about the look and which one works for you. Both Quartzite and engineered Quartz are much easier to care for than Marble.

My countertops (pics in the thread linked below) are quartzite but look like marble (mostly - there are some very distinct differences in the look, so you just have to see the stone to know if you like it).

There are also some engineered products that are made to look like marble and the people who have them love them.

You may have already seen this thread today, but here are some links, photos, etc...

Are white quartz countertops a fad?

You're absolutely right, its metamorphised Limestone. (Sometimes non-metamorphised is generically called marble)

Sorry for the mis-type.

I wanted the white marble look too and went with Quarzite (Madre Perola) - I love the look and it is totally bulletproof - no staining, no etching - good as new 6mos later. Love it!

I LOVE my Super White quartzite. We have had it for 6 months and they only thing we have to be careful about is not sliding items that have a rough surface across it.

Thank you all so much, I couldn't do this without you.

Let me see if I have this right now.
Quartz and quartzite are both natural stones.
Engineered/manufactured quartz is made with epoxy.

pa, you said quartz was $500 sq ft.
That is way out of my budget.
Is quartzite the same price?

The main reason I was looking at engineered quartz, is that I read that it doesn't stain, and can take heat, etc.

Is the quartzite as bullet proof as the engineered?

Is there any problem with the epoxy in the engineered quartz turning yellow with time? since it's going to be mostly white?

Mom, I love your counter tops. You have exactly what I would like to have.

thanks again
Corrie

Ours were about $110 a square foot (installed) - expensive but not outrageous.

I think when people say Quartz and are referring to a natural stone they are referring to Quartzite. So, same thing.

No problem with heat so far but I don't put hot glass on it in case the glass cracks - the quartzite is naturally cold - like granite.

No problem at all with staining or etching (I really have tried - we got a sample and I tried everything on it).

(And thanks for liking our quartzite - we adore it!)

Quartzite (the stone) and engineered quartz should be in the same ballpark, and like momqs said $100 something a square foot.

The really pricey rose quartz crystal material is something really completely different --its a semi precious stone, and not a typical countertop material.

Thank you both.
That really cleared things up for me, especially mom trying to kill it LOL

Mom, your counters are exactly what I want. I can remember my great aunts marble counter tops, but I was worried about marble. Quartzite will give me the same look.

Thank you again
Corrie

I took a couple of close ups of the backsplash against the counter for you because it's carerra marble. I just had to have the marble and it's much easier to care for on a backsplash.

The counter looks a little washed out in these photos. It's not quite that light - but the counter is lighter than the backsplash. The marble has a lot more grey in it.

Mom, that's a fantastic kitchen. I really like what you did and I'm definately getting that quartz.
I made a couple of phone calls and I can actually get the quartzite cheaper than the engineered quartz.
The real stone will give me the look I wanted, my great aunts kitchen.
Thank you again
Corrie

Great news! Good luck with it and post lots of pictures when you are done!

momqs, can we see more of your beautiful kitchen? I want hug your counters. We are just in the design process but what I want is colors like you have. Love it!

HD has white Silestone at about $64-67/sf.

It is not $100.

I guess if you go to the most expensive fabricator.....

"The engineered Quartz has quartz in it, but it not the same as Quartzite."

Engineered quartz is about 97% ground quartz the rest is pigments and resin. More than suggested by "it has quartz in it."

and Silestone looks nothing like moms countertops. It is a very homogenous, small particulate material. Nothing like the beautiful natural stone in the picture.

cindaintx - Our kitchen is FINALLY finished but right after it was done we left for vacation.

I promise to take and post pictures on Sunday.

Thanks for your lovely comments!

Often times the naming conventions and material properties can make it difficult to know one material from another. Here is a slew of articles that compare one kind of stone with another: https://www.tenax4you.com/comparing-materials-s/2091.htm

Specifically though, this article compares Quartz vs Quartzite

Hope this information helps future readers.

"Engineered quartz is about 97% ground quartz the rest is pigments and resin."

This is just as mythical as it was a decade ago. Engineered stone is 65% quartz and 35% resin by volume, not by weight as the manufactures want to push.